Electro-fluidic drive system

Abstract

A drive system includes: a remote drive configured for being driven by an electrical motor; and an actuator spaced apart from and fluidically coupled with the remote drive and configured for being fluidically powered by the remote drive, the remote drive including a rack and pinion system and a plurality of piston assemblies coupled therewith, the rack and pinion system including a first rack, a second rack, and a pinion engaging the first rack and the second rack, the plurality of piston assemblies each including an inner piston and an outer piston which are configured for sliding relative to one another and thereby for selectively opening and closing a working medium passage therebetween.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drive system, comprising:
 a remote drive configured for being driven by an electrical motor; and   an actuator spaced apart from and fluidically coupled with the remote drive and configured for being fluidically powered by the remote drive, the remote drive including a rack and pinion system and a plurality of piston assemblies coupled therewith, the rack and pinion system including a first rack, a second rack, and a pinion engaging the first rack and the second rack, the plurality of piston assemblies each including an inner piston and an outer piston which are configured for sliding relative to one another and thereby for selectively opening and closing a working medium passage therebetween.   
     
     
         2 . The drive system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first rack and the second rack being configured for moving in opposite directions relative to one another depending upon a direction of rotation of the pinion. 
     
     
         3 . The drive system according to  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of piston assemblies include a first piston assembly and a second piston assembly, the first rack being coupled with the first piston assembly, the second rack being coupled with the second piston assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The drive system according to  claim 3 , wherein the first piston assembly includes a first pin which couples the inner piston of the first piston assembly with the outer piston of the first piston assembly, and the second piston assembly includes a second pin which couples the inner piston of the second piston assembly with the outer piston of the second piston assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The drive system according to  claim 4 , wherein the outer piston of the first piston assembly includes a first slot, the first pin being positioned in the first slot, and wherein the outer piston of the second piston assembly includes a second slot, the second pin being positioned in the second slot. 
     
     
         6 . A drive of a drive system, the drive comprising:
 the drive, which is a remote drive that is configured for being driven by an electrical motor, is configured for being spaced apart and fluidically coupled with an actuator of the drive system, and is configured for fluidically powering the actuator, the remote drive including a rack and pinion system and a plurality of piston assemblies coupled therewith, the rack and pinion system including a first rack, a second rack, and a pinion engaging the first rack and the second rack, the plurality of piston assemblies each including an inner piston and an outer piston which are configured for sliding relative to one another and thereby for selectively opening and closing a working medium passage therebetween.   
     
     
         7 . The drive according to  claim 6 , wherein the first rack and the second rack being configured for moving in opposite directions relative to one another depending upon a direction of rotation of the pinion. 
     
     
         8 . The drive according to  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of piston assemblies include a first piston assembly and a second piston assembly, the first rack being coupled with the first piston assembly, the second rack being coupled with the second piston assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The drive according to  claim 8 , wherein the first piston assembly includes a first pin which couples the inner piston of the first piston assembly with the outer piston of the first piston assembly, and the second piston assembly includes a second pin which couples the inner piston of the second piston assembly with the outer piston of the second piston assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The drive according to  claim 9 , wherein the outer piston of the first piston assembly includes a first slot, the first pin being positioned in the first slot, and wherein the outer piston of the second piston assembly includes a second slot, the second pin being positioned in the second slot. 
     
     
         11 . A method of using a drive system, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing that the drive system includes a remote drive and an actuator, the remote drive being configured for being driven by an electrical motor, the actuator being spaced apart from and fluidically coupled with the remote drive, the remote drive including a rack and pinion system and a plurality of piston assemblies coupled therewith, the rack and pinion system including a first rack, a second rack, and a pinion engaging the first rack and the second rack, the plurality of piston assemblies each including an inner piston and an outer piston which are configured for sliding relative to one another and thereby for selectively opening and closing a working medium passage therebetween; and   fluidically powering the actuator by the remote drive.   
     
     
         12 . The drive system according to  claim 11 , wherein the first rack and the second rack being configured for moving in opposite directions relative to one another depending upon a direction of rotation of the pinion. 
     
     
         13 . The drive system according to  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of piston assemblies include a first piston assembly and a second piston assembly, the first rack being coupled with the first piston assembly, the second rack being coupled with the second piston assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The drive system according to  claim 13 , wherein the first piston assembly includes a first pin which couples the inner piston of the first piston assembly with the outer piston of the first piston assembly, and the second piston assembly includes a second pin which couples the inner piston of the second piston assembly with the outer piston of the second piston assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The drive system according to  claim 14 , wherein the outer piston of the first piston assembly includes a first slot, the first pin being positioned in the first slot, and wherein the outer piston of the second piston assembly includes a second slot, the second pin being positioned in the second slot.